April 28, 2006

IN AN AUDIENCE WITH EDITORS-IN-CHIEF OF SAUDI NEWSPAPERS AND THE SAUDI MEDIA DELEGATION WHO ACCOMPANIED HIM ON HIS RECENTLY-CONCLUDED TOUR OF A NUMBER OF ASIAN COUNTRIES CROWN PRINCE SULTAN STRESSES THAT THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA IS RESPECTED BY THE WHOLE WORLD AND EXERTS EFFORTS IN ALL AREAS. PRINCE SULTAN ANNOUNCE THAT THE NAME OF PRINCE SALMAN CENTER FOR DISABILITY RESEARCH WILL BE CHANGED TO PRINCE SALMAN ACADEMY FOR THE DISABLED. THE CROWN PRINCE REVIEWS THE SITUATION IN PALESTINE AND IRAQ WITH THE BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY. Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister, Defense And Aviation Minister And Inspector General, received Editors-In-Chief of Saudi newspapers and the Saudi media delegation who accompanied him on his recently-concluded tour of a number of Asian countries which took him to Japan, Singapore and Pakistan. Asked whether the visits by the King and the Crown Prince to Asian countries were to counterbalance the relations with the West in the past, Prince Sultan said: "These visits were scheduled previously but because of our other engagements we could not undertake them and have nothing to do with Saudi Arabia's flourishing relations with others. Also there were several conferences in Europe and America and few conferences were held in East Asia on Arab issues such as the Palestinian issue." Denying media reports that there are some differences between the Kingdom and the United States, Crown Prince Sultan said: "Some Western newspapers interpreted the visits of King Abdullah and myself as a sign of differences between the two countries. Our relations with it are robust particularly in military and economic fields." He also affirmed the Kingdom's strong relations with France, China, Japan and India. Prince Sultan reaffirmed Saudi Arabia's key role in stabilizing the international oil market. "The Kingdom hiked its production level to 12 million barrels per day with the aim of bringing down the price," he said. Describing the legal system in the Kingdom as the best in the world, he said great efforts had been made to carry out reforms. Several ministries had been merged and some others abolished. Prince Sultan spoke about the government's political and administrative reforms. "There are instructions from the king to deal with people with transparency and we are striving to do away with bureaucracy and complex regulations," he pointed out. After one month from now, significant changes will be made on the academic curricula, according to recommendations of an ad hoc committee, the Crown Prince said. "For this purpose, new books have been printed and distributed." On the issue of granting visas to foreign journalists wanting to cover the Kingdom's developmental projects and programs, Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and Aviation and Inspector General said measures have been taken in this regard. The Crown Prince denounced the anti-Saudi campaign launched by a section of the Western media. "Some journalists, who visit the Kingdom and hold interviews with Saudi authorities, depart fully convinced about the situation here. Weeks later, they start writing about the Kingdom in a hostile manner," he said. The Crown Prince said that the Kingdom's accession to the World Trade Organization will not in any way harm Islam or the Saudi culture. "We joined the WTO with dignity and, God willing, we will set up a ministry for foreign trade in the Kingdom if we need it," he added. If deemed necessary, we might set up a new ministry for foreign trade following our accession to the WTO, Crown Prince Sultan said. In response to a question, he agreed that Saudi Arabia's relations with Latin American countries are limited but this does not mean that we should not move towards highlighting our cause, he said. The Prince disclosed that the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz has launched an intensive mediation between India and Pakistan. "Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah had set in motion the efforts to mediate between India and Pakistan. We hope that he will succeed in his efforts," the Crown Prince told Saudi editors in chief and other journalists who accompanied him during his three-nation Asian tour. He categorically refuted reports that Saudi Arabia is seeking to join the nuclear club, saying that his country is in no need of that endeavour. "Saudi Arabia is against the proliferation of nuclear weapons," the Crown Prince said. On the nuclear standoff between Iran and the West, Prince Sultan said it was not in Tehran's interest. "Our hope is that Iran will be reasonable and steer the country away from trouble," Crown Prince Sultan said. "It is also not in our interest to take a position against Iran while Israel possesses similar weapons. We are against nuclear weapons and its proliferation. It is enough that big powers have them to protect the world and defend themselves." He called on Iran to refrain from whatever causes problems to the country and people of Iran. He said Saudi Arabia is against the proliferation of nuclear weapons. On a question about facilitating Saudi businessmen's entry to Singapore without visas, the Crown Prince said: "I discussed this matter with the Singaporean authorities and told them that you are a developing country but you deny yourself the support you need." Prince Sultan said: "The Kingdom will continue buying new weapons and aircraft to defend itself and update its armed forces and has received special budget allocation for the purpose." He also referred to the government's efforts to eradicate unemployment among Saudi men and women and urged the private sector to cooperate by employing Saudis in large numbers. "There will be no unemployment in the Kingdom after five years." Replying to a question about opening more offices of Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA) abroad as have been done in Singapore, Sultan said it would be done after seeing the performance of the existing offices abroad. On the other hand Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, patronized the ceremony of the first meeting of Prince Salman Center for Care of Disabled Children. The Crown Prince announced that the name of Prince Salman Center for Care of Disabled Children would be changed to Prince Salman Academy for the Disabled. Crown Prince Sultan had patronized the first meeting of the board of the Prince Salman Center for Care of Disabled Children which was held at Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz Humanitarian City. Upon arrival at the venue, accompanied by Prince Salman the Crown Prince was received by Prince Khalid Ibn Sultan Assistant Minister of Defence and Aviation and Inspector General for Military Affairs and Prince Sultan Ibn Salman, Chairman of Board of Directors of the Society of Disabled Children; the Minister of Social Affairs Abdul Mohsen Al Akkas, the Minister of Education Dr Abdullah Ibn Saleh Al Obaid, the Minister of Health Dr Hamad Al Manei, the Minister of Islamic Affairs, Endowment, Call and Guidance Sheikh Saleh Ibn Abdul Aziz Al Al-Sheikh and the Director General of Prince Sultan Foundation Dr Majed Al Qassabi. The Crown Prince visited the exhibition held on the occasion then a speech ceremony was held on this occasion. Prince Sultan Ibn Salman then delivered a speech in which he talked about the Center. Prince Salman Center for Disability Research is considered to be one of the leading centers in the field of disability research, and the sole Center specializing in this domain Kingdom wide. The establishment of the Center was initiated thanks to a proposal from Prince Sultan Ibn Salman Ibn Abdul Aziz, Chairman, Executive Board of the Disabled Children Association. The proposal received special consideration from the Executive Board of the Association, thus paving the way for the Center to pursue its mission, enriching knowledge and developing principles of prevention and care for the disabled, on the basis of rigorous science. The Center has become a reality, thanks to the patronage of Prince Sultan Ibn Salman Ibn Abdul Aziz, Chairman, Executive Board of the Disabled Children Association. His initiative has contributed to the efforts that aim at alleviating the difficulties of the disabled and their families, and aims at enhancing the role of this group in socio-economic development and humanitarian activities. The issue of disability and its social and economic repercussions constitutes one of the most important challenges facing contemporary societies at present. One of the most effective means to deal with this issue is to investigate the causes of disabilities. In addition, overcoming obstacles that constrain people with disabilities and limit their productivity and independence in society are worth studying. The Center, which is motivated by religious and humanitarian concerns for persons with disabilities, is a major contribution to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its benevolent society. The Center has adopted plans and ambitious goals which will be realized at the hands of highly qualified personnel. Prince Sultan Ibn Salman said: The Prince Salman Center for Disability Research was established to address the real & important needs of persons with disabilities & their families. In addressing those needs, the PSCDR has set its goal as the promotion, conduct & support of scientific research & the application of new knowledge to the benefit of persons with disabilities & their families. We believe the PSCDR has a great opportunity to advance the causes of persons with disabilities. In addressing that opportunity, the PSCDR will undertake basic & applied research projects in the biological, behavioral & social sciences; it will promote & develop collaborations with scientists both within the Kingdom & world-wide; & it will collect and disseminate information through all media including the Internet. We hope the PSCDR will advance new insights into the causes of disabilities & develop new strategies to prevent them, or reduce their impact on an individual. We further aspire to a time when new knowledge created by research will lead to more effective service & support systems for persons with disabilities & their families. On the other hand Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister, Defense And Aviation Minister And Inspector General, received the Chief of U.S. Training Military Mission in the Kingdom, Major General L. T. Larry. During the meeting, they exchanged cordial talks and discussed topics of mutual interest. Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister, Defense And Aviation Minister And Inspector General received at his palace in Riyadh the British Secretary Of State For Foreign & Commonwealth Affairs Jack Straw and his accompanying delegation. During the meeting, they discussed latest regional and international developments, specially the Palestinian issue and the situation in Iraq as well as ways of enhancing cooperation between the two countries in all fields. The meeting was attended by Prince Saud Al-Faisal, the Foreign Minister, Prince Mohammad Ibn Nawaf Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Saudi Ambassador to the United Kingdom, and the British Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Sherard Cowper-Coles. Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister, Defense And Aviation Minister And Inspector General, received Dr. Alawi Shihab, the Special Envoy of the Indonesian President. During the audience, the envoy conveyed to the Crown Prince the greetings of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono of Indonesia. In turn, the Crown Prince sent his greetings to the Indonesian President. The meeting was attended by the Indonesian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Salim Al-Jifri. The presence of both President General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz at the Islamabad airport to receive Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Premier, Defense and Aviation Minister, and Inspector General, was an expression of the warmth between the two countries, an editorial in a leading Pakistani English daily said y. "Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have been close allies since 1947 and both have helped and supported each other at crucial periods in their history. The prompt and generous assistance extended by Riyadh in the aftermath of the devastating October 8 earthquake was its most recent expression of solidarity with Pakistan," the editorial appearing in The Nation said. It added that Saudi entrepreneurs have recently made large investments in Pakistan's steel sector and more investments in other sectors are expected. During his two-day visit to Pakistan, the Crown Prince held comprehensive and wide-ranging discussions with General Musharraf and Aziz, the editorial said adding that the joint declaration indicates that the two sides had in-depth talks on bilateral, regional and international issues. "Expressing the sentiments of the Muslim community worldwide, both emphasized the need for the creation of an independent Palestinian state and expressed anguish over the deteriorating situation in Iraq. The issue of Kashmir, however, remained confined to the expression of resolve by the Pakistani leadership to settle all disputes with India, including Kashmir, through peaceful means." The editorial said this was compensated however by the address of Crown Prince Sultan at the luncheon hosted by Aziz where he stressed the need to reach "a just and peaceful solution to the issue of Kashmir," maintaining that Pak-India dialogue was the best way to resolve problems. Over the last few years new challenges have emerged which Saudi Arabia and Pakistan need to deal with jointly, the editorial said. Meanwhile, the former Secretary General of the Foreign Affairs Minister and leader of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League Akram Zaki said that the recently concluded visit of Crown Prince Sultan further strengthened the existing bilateral relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. He said Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are enjoying excellent religious and traditional relations. Zaki said Saudi Arabia extended every kind of assistance to Pakistan soon after the October 8 earthquake, which badly hit Azad Kashmir and the North West Frontier Province. Saudi Arabia also helped Pakistan in time of need, he said, adding that presently Joint Investment Company was working between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, which needed to be strengthened. Zaki said the two countries' joint struggle against terrorism was very important to wipe it out.